I rented one place for four years, then another for six years. In our fair city, dominated by students, the leases tend to be shorter. A year, perhaps two at the most.

My brother has been in the same complex for almost seven years now. He actually got a rent reduction this year! How odd is that?

I've stayed in most of the apartments I've lived in for a year. One apartment we stayed in for 2 years, and our current apartment we have lived in for 4 1/2, and are looking at probably a total of 6 or 7 years before we can get a house and get out. I hate that, cuz I feel like we are throwing so much money away on rent, but we just can't afford a house right now. It's a little better now that the neighbor who threatened to hurt my husband has moved out, but we would still desperately love to have our own house.

NYC skews really long. I've stayed 4 or 5 years, but there are many people who, once settled in, stay 15 or longer. The cost of trying to find a new place to live, and the difficulty of it, discourage people.

And of course, it ain't easy to buy here, either, so lots of people stay in rental apartments.

(and I bet we have one of the largest stocks of owner apartments, too)

i have always rented apartments, since i was 18 years old.

my 1st apt; i lived in about 6 months
2nd one; about 2 years
3rd; only a year
4th; for 4 years

current apartment; i've (we) have lived here for about 7 years. now my husband & i are moving again, in next few weeks.

we will probably be in the next apartment for a few years until we are pregnant & need to move again. hopefully that will be it for a while.